Leonie Smith

Leonie Smith is a first-generation Canadian with Jamaican heritage, dedicated to empowering people from traditionally marginalized communities to fully participate in their living, working, and social environments. She is on the Leadership Team of Building Belonging, and brings over two decades of experience in senior management within nonprofit sectors—spanning communications, fundraising, and human resources. Leonie has established three pivotal organizations. The Thoughtful Workplace focuses on fostering people-centered work cultures for organizations and nonprofits. People of Colour for Nonviolent Communication (POC4NVC) serves as a network for individuals of the global majority pursuing nonviolence and Nonviolent Communication. Additionally, the Necessary Trouble Collective (NTC) offers consultancy to movement and activist groups, emphasizing nonviolence, conflict resolution, and training principles. Holding certifications in Nonviolent Communication from The Center for Nonviolent Communication and Sociocracy from Sociocracy for All, this professional works from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as an organizational consultant, restorative and transformative justice mediator, coach, and trainer.